Envelop printing and addressing machine.



PATENTED JAN. 16, 1966 55. P. KENNA. ENVELOP 951mm; AND ADDRESSING MAGHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 23, L904. RENEWED MAY 2,1905

5 BHIIBTSSHEET 1.

Wihmaoas @106, MM

PATENTBD JAN.16, 1906.

M. P. KENNA. ENVELOP PRINTING AND ADDRESSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 23, 1904. RENEWED MAY 2, 1905.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Witness No. 809,957. PATENTED JAN. 16, 1908.

' M. P. KBNNA.

ENVELOP PRINTING AND ADDRESSING MACHINE.

APPLIUATZON rum AUG.23,1904. RENEWED HAY2,1905.

s BHBETS-SHEET 3.

PATENTED JAN. 16, 1906.

M. P. KENNA.

ENVELOP PRINTING AND ADDRESSING MACHINE.

APPLIUATIOH FILED AUG. 23, 1904. RENEWED MAY 2, 1905.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

m t w u M S l/vita an c9. 05,

PATBNTED JAN. 16, 1906 M. P. KENNA.

BNVELOP PRINTING AND ADDRESSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 23 1904. RENEWED MAY 2, 19(15- 5 SHEETS*SHEET 5.

q/vituuu:

M X/CC ing from the opposite end of the machine.

PATENT OFFICE.

MICHAEL P. KENNA, OF DUBUQUE, IOWA.

ENVELOP PRINTING AND ADDRESSING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 16. 1906.

Application filed August 23, 1904. Renewed May 2, 1905 Serial No. 263,505.

To (11M whont it may concern:

Be it known that 1, MICHAEL P. KENNA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dubu ue, in the county of Dubuque and State of l owa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelop Printing and Addressing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to envelop printing and addressing machines; and among the ob- 'ects in view is to provide an envelopprintmg machine wherein envelops may be economically and rapidly printed with different names or addresses or with the ordinary business forms of envelop-printing, said machine being of comparatively simple construction, and wherein the envelope are automatically fed in succession to stereotype or electrotype plates or rubber-type stamps, which latter are also fed in succession, and the printed envelops are automatically discharged from the mac me.

The invention consists in the novel con struction, arrangement, and combination of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and pointed out in the .ap ended claims.

5 n the accompanying drawings, Fi ure 1 is a perspective view of a machine em odying my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view look- Fig. 3 is a detai end view of the roller X and showing the arrangement of the spring-clips for engaging the envelope and the means for actuating said clips. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of parts of the machine, showing the relative arrangement of the magazine for the printing plates or slugs, the ink-rollers, the printing-rollers, the slug-distributing devices and the endless eonveyer belt or chain for the printing plates or slu s. Fig. 5 is a perspec tive view of parts 0 the machine, showing more clearly the arrangement of the means for detaching the rinting-slugs from the conveyer belt or c ain and delivering the same into the galleys Figs. 6 and 7 are de tail perspective views showing the manner of detaching the slugs from the conveyer-belt. Fig. 8 is a detail view of one of the rintingslugs. Fig. 9 is a perspective view 5 owing a modified construction of machine. Fig. 10 is a similar view looking from the opposite side of the machine. Figs. 11, 12, 13, and 14 are detail perspective views of parts of the machine.

My present invention embodies certain 1mprovemcnts in the machine forming the subjcctmattcr of my copcnding application filed November 23, 1903, Serial No. 182,381, which improven'lonts will be apparent hereinafter.

In the present machine the means forgripping the envelops and feeding the same in succession to the printing'point comprising the three pairs of spring clips AA B B (J C are practically identical with the means shown in my aforesaid copcnding application, the said clips being actuated by the eccentric band D, secured to upright D, whereby to cause said clips to assume a position to enable them to engage with the flap of the lowermost envelop contained in the receptacle E. The clips after having been engaged with the flap of the envelop will be released from the frame D and will then close down upon the flap, being actuated by their springs, and will remain in such position and carry the envelop around to the printingpoint between the rollers X and Y, and the clips will remain closed upon the flap until after the envelop has moved beyond the printing-point. Then the clips will be again actuated by the frame D to cause them to release the flap of the printed envelop, and the latter will be carried by the endless tapes F, running over pulleys J, and similar to the corresponding tapes in myother pending application, and the tapes F will carry the envelop along and finally dro) it into a suitable receptacle. Thus the envelops are fed from the receptacle t successively by the clips and conveyed to the printing-point.

G G are brushes arranged and operating similarly to the brushes W in myother application.

In my present case I employ means for feeding the printing-slugs to the printingpoint and removing them after having served their purpose, which means I consider an improvement upon the means for similar purposes disclosed in my co ending ap lieation.

K indicates a vertical y-arrange rece tacle or magazine for the printing-slugs o, w ich latter are arranged within the magazine one above the other, with their p rinting-faces upward. The magazine is directly over an endless conveyer-belt L, of sheet metal, which runs around a roller Z and around the roller Y. The outer face of the belt is rovided with catches L, arranged at equal istances a art, and they are adapted to engage with t 1e slugs in the magazine as said catches pass beneath the said magazine, detach the lower most slug from the rest, and carry the same along to the printing-point. In its revolution the conveyor-belt carries the slug under the inking-rollers N, which are arranged and ada )ted to ink the printing-faces ol' the slugs as they pass in succession beneath said rollers, said rollers being carried by standards N, which are adjustable vertically in other standards N by means of pins 72, engaging within slots n in the standards N Thus the inking-rollers may be adjusted to bring them into proper inking position.

For detaching the slugs from the conveyerbelt after the slugs have passed the printingpoint and conveying the slugs into galleys I provide the following means: 0 indicates a trough-shaped chute arranged in an inclined position, with one end lying-adjacent to the periphery of the roller Y, said chute being sup orted by standards Y. The other end of the chute lies adjacent to an inclined galley P. There is sufficient space between the end of the chute and the roller to permit the passage of the catches L. The end of the chute adjacent the roller has projecting points or rongs 0 which lie upon opposite sides of the conveyer-belt and project into circumferential grooves or channels R in the roller Y.

By the described means the slugs will be caused to be detached from the catches L in the manner indicated in Figs. 5, 6, and 7, and said slugs will slide down the chute O and thence into the galley P. I preferably make the galley in sections arranged side by side and adapt said galley to be adjusted transversely, whereby when one section of the galley is filled it may be adjusted laterally to bring another section into position to receive the slugs. The base Q is rovided with a transverse roove Q, into W iich rojects the foot Q of t e sup ort for the gal eys, so that the galleys may lie easily slid laterally and guided in their movement.

. Each slug may be provided with a nick 1), whereby to indicate when the slugs are in the galley correctly.

In order to make the movement of the conveyer-belt coincide with that of the roller Y, I provide said roller with several sets (three in the present instance) of pins s, arranged at e uidistant points about the circumference o the roller, and which ins enter openings T in the conveyer-belt. 0 give support and direction to the conveyer-belt at and adjacent to the inking-rollers, I provide a support it, of sheet metal, having turned-up edges to give strength and forming a guideway for the belt, said su port being securely attached to the standar for the inking-rollers, and the belt and slugs move within and over the support, and the im act of the slug with the in -rollers is invaria ly secured.

The slu s are constructed with a slight extension 1) at either end, which extensions slide within the channels lt oi the roller Y. These projections also preserve the printinghures ol' the slugs from injury when piled up in the magazine.

The roller X isprovided with acovering II, of rubber, for receiving the pressure of the printing impression. A removable cap K may be provided for the upper end of the magazine K.

In Figs. 9 to 14- I show a slightly-inodified construction of machine, and in this construction I provide a continuous link chain A, arranged and traveling in a manner similar to the belt L in the first-described construction. The link chain, provided with lugs If for engaging the slugs ii", is conveyed through channels C in the rollers X", Y", and chute C". K is the receptacle for the slugs. N represents the printing-rollers carried by standards N F are the tapes for conveying the printed envelops to a suitable receptacle, said tapes running over pulleys J F is a roller around which the chain A passes. In the modified construction the envelop-receptacle K is arranged at an inclination and angled at K". The feeder for the envelo s comprises an inclined channelshapc guide or chute L, made of tin or other metal, having the parallel sides L of a width to correspond with the opening K in the envelop-receptacle K. At each end of the ends rollers L carrying continuous tapes 5 S, are secured, the parts being so constructed that the tapes pass over and under the floor L. The tapes are operated by means of the cam T,-mounted on the shaft carrying the roller X, upon which cam bears a lever T", mounted on the end T of the lower roller L", which also carries a ratchetwheel T and with the teeth of the ratchet engages a spring-actuated pawl T The envelops are supplied by the tapes S through the medium of the cam-and-ratchet attachment to the grasp of each succeeding series of spring-clips C The inclination required at which to operate this envelop-feed sup 1y is about thirty degrees, the envelops eing guided to the o ening in the receptacle K and thence to t ie place of contact with the s ring-clips C by gravity and the action of tie tapes. In Fig. 12 I show another construction of envelop-feed supply, which is constructed in a similar channel-approach w, the floor or bottom w being of sheet-tin or other suitable material and curved, as shown at M'". The a proach w is connected with the receptacle at an inclination of about fort -five degrees, the envelops being fed direct y to the opened end w and allowed to slide by gravity into the receptacle, that movement being checked slightly by the top of the curve M lessenin the weight bearing immediately over the piiice of contact with the spring-clips A reducing the liability of more than one of the envelops at a time slipping out of" the bottom of the receptacle and permitting the action of the brushes (-l in eating back other envelops. The object of the improvement in the envelop-feed supply is to obviate the vertical weight sustained by the bottom envelops when acted upon by the spring-clips, the pressure frequently forcing more envelo is than the one required from the receptacle and at times more than the brushes could sweep back. The improved feed device by spreading the envelops within the channel-approach reduces their pressure and overcomes the said objection. In the construction seen in Fig. 11 G indicates the brushes, X the up er roller, and C the spring-ell 5, while in ig. 12 G indicates the brushes, the upper roller, A the springclips, L the parallel side of the approach 10. For the urpose of relieving a possible friction on the bottom of the lowermost envelop I insert short wires 1 and 2 on the floor of the receptacle. This floor is made to present as little obstruction as possible by leaving free passages for the action of the s rin clips and the free movement of the rol or t ereunder. I may, and preferably do, reverse the position of the slug-feed supply, and Fig. 13 shows the row of slugs facin r the printingroller, and I remove the roller and its supporting-standards to at least the distance of one length of chain between two brackets for the purpose of having them set directly over the chute C" instead of having them drop upon the moving roller. I also show the mode of conveying each slug to its place under the printing-roller. The slugs are re tained in the receptacle K by its sides, the back and narrow sides K extendin downward only so far as will allow one s ug at a time free movement. The slug is taken forward by the engaging lugs successivel as they reach it and is carried over the c utc C through the guideways C, to its destination, and thence carried oil to the galleys, as previously described.

I may use in connection with the extended full-length metal roller X electrotype or stereotype plates X for printing the envelops, corner-sections, or other like details, adapting it for that purpose by constructing parallel to its length on its outer circumferential surface six (more or less) beveled orifices X at convenient distances a art for the rece tion of wooden wedges 15 having coinci ing beveled edges. Upon the wedges I will tack electrotype or stereot pe plates, securing them to the wedges w ere required. Fig. 14 shows the parts just hereinbefore described.

The machine will in practice be made of various sizes to accommodate various sizes of invelops.

What I claim is- 1. In a machine of the character described,

ie combination with two superposed rollers,

iii a conveyor belt or chain passing between the. rollers, a magazine For printing-slugs, means carried by the bell l'or engaging the slugs and carrying them between the rollers, and inking devices intermediate [be nniguzine and the said rollers.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination with two superposed rollers, of a conveyor belt or chain passing between the rollers, a nmgazine l'or printing-slugs arranged above the belt, cult-lies mirried by the belt adapted to engage the slugs and carry them between the rollers and inking devices intermediate the nnignzine and the said rollers.

3. In a machine of the character d cscribed, the combination with two superposed rollers, of a conveyer belt or chain passing betwegn the rollers, a magazine for printingslugs, means carried by the belt adapted to engage the slugs and carry them between the rollers, a support over which the conveyor-belt travels and inking devices arranged at a point ad jacent to and above the said support.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination with two superposed rollers, of a conveyer belt or chain passing between the rollers, means for elieeting the engagement of one of the rollers and the belt as the latter travels around said roller, a magazine for printing-slugs, means for ell'ecting the engagement of the belt and the slugs, and inking devices intermediate the magazine and the rollers.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination with two superposed rollers, of a conveyer belt or chain passing between the rollers, a magazine for printing-slugs, means for effecting engagement of the belt with the slugs, inking devices intermediate the magazine and rollers, an inclined chute arran ed to eflect the disengagement of the slugs rom the belt and a galley into which the chute is adapted to discharge the disengaged slugs.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination with two superposed rollers, of a conveyor belt or chain passing between the rollers, a magazine for printing-slugs, means for effecting engagement of the belt with the slugs, inking devices intermediate the magazine and the rollers, an inclined chute arran ed to eil'ect the disengagement of the slugs om the belt, and a transverselyadjustable galley into which the chute is adapted to discharge the disengaged slugs.

7. In a machine of the character described, the combination with two superposed rollers, the lower one of which is provided with eircumferential grooves, of a conveyor belt or chain passing between the rollers, a magazine for printing-Si ugs, means for ellecting engagement of the belt and slugs, an inclined chute provided with projecting points or spurs adapted to enter the grooves in the roller, and

a galley into which the chute is adapted to discharge the disengaged slugs.

In a machine of the character described, the combination with two superposed rollers, the lower one having circumferential grooves, of a conveyer belt or chain passing between the rollers, a magazine for printing-slugs, each slug having extensions at the ends to travel in the grooves of the roller, means for efl'ecting the engagement of the belt with the slugs, an inclined chute having projecting )oints or spurs adapted to enter the grooves 111 the roller and to disengage the slugs from the belt and a galley into which the chute is adapted to discharge the disengaged slugs.

9. In a machine of the character described, the combination with two superposed rollers, of a conveyer belt or chain passing between the rollers, a magazine for printing-slu s, means carried by the belt for engaging t 1e slugs and carrying them between the rollers, inklng devices intermediate the magazine and the said rollers, an envelop-receptacle arranged with its discharge end adjacent to the circumference of the upper roller, clips carried by the upper roller and means for feeding the envelops successively into a )osition to be grasped by the said clips, an means for operating the clips in the manner and for,

the purpose specified.

10. In a machine of the character described, the combination with two superposed printin rollers, of a conveyer belt or chain passingloetween the rollers, a magazine for printing-slugs, means carried by the belt for engaging the slugs and carrying them be tween the rollers, inking devices intermediate the magazine and the said rollers, an envelop-rcceptacle arranged at an inclination with its discharge end adjacent to the circumference ol the upper roller, clips carried by the u )per roller, teed-tapes arranged to coi'ivey tie envelops along the receptacle, means for impm'ting a step-b v-stcp movement to the tapes and means for operating the clips in the manner and for the purpose specified.

11. In a machine of the character described, the combination with two superposed printing-rollers, of a conveyor belt or chain passing between the rollers, a magazine for printing-slugs, means carried by the belt for engaging the slugs and carrying them be tween the rollers, inking devices intermediate the magazine and the said rollers, an envelop-receptacle arranged at an inclination with its discharge end adjacent to the circumference of the upper roller, clips carried by the u per roller, feedtapes arranged to convey tlie envelops along the IGC8)tflCl6, rollers at the ends of the receptacle an upon which the said tapes run, a ratchet-wheel on the shaft of the lower roller, a lever also mounted at one end on the said shaft, a cam on the shaft of the upper printing-roller and upon which cam the opposite end of the lever bears and a awl on said lever engaging the ratchet-whee, all arranged for cooperation as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MICHAEL P. KENNA.

Witnesses:

WM. QUIGLEY, ALEX. SIMPLOT. 

